HBO issues Game of Thrones take down notices to Periscope after premiere leaks online

THE network behind Game of Thrones is getting tough on internet piracy, sending take-down notices after the season premiere popped up online.

HBO’s Game of Thrones has the dubious honour of being popular with both pirates and viewers.

After its fifth season began on Sunday, users of a Twitter-owned live-streaming app shared the fantasy drama.

HBO said on Tuesday it sent “take down” notices to Periscope, the app that allows video streaming from users’ phones to their Twitter followers.

Twitter, which recently acquired Periscope, said the app complies with US copyright law and will respond to valid take-down requests.

On Monday, HBO said four unairedGame of Thronesepisodes that were leaked online had come from within a group authorised to receive preview DVDs.

Pirates beware ... HBO sent “take down” notices to Periscope, the app that allows video streaming from users’ phones to their Twitter followers. Picture: AP/HBO, Helen Sloan

The unrelated incidents don’t appear to have hurt the show’s ratings. HBO hasn’t released figures, but reports say nearly 8 million viewers tuned in to the premiere, the best start yet for the series based on the works of George R.R. Martin.

HBO indirectly chided Periscope, saying in a statement that app developers should have tools to “proactively prevent mass copyright infringement” and not rely solely on being notified after such incidents occur.

Neither HBO nor Twitter had further comment on the issue.

But in a Periscope copyright policy posted online, the company said it expects users to respect intellectual property rights and asks those alleging copyright infringement to contact it with details and proof.

The policy also says that Periscope reserves the right to remove such content without prior notice and to terminate the account of a “repeat infringer.”